Political Turmoil in South Korea: Crisis, Politics and Implications

South Korea is facing one of its most serious political crises since democratization in 1987. Last week, on the 12th November, former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn was arrested on charges related to inciting insurrection during last year's martial law declaration by President Yoon Suk Yeol. The arrest marks a significant moment in an ongoing investigation that has already seen the detention of other high-ranking officials, including the former intelligence chief, and the impeachment and removal of President Yoon himself.

The Man at the Center

Hwang Kyo-ahn is a big name in South Korean politics. He served as Prime Minister from 2015 to 2017 under President Park Geun-hye and as acting president for a short period after Park's impeachment in late 2016. Before entering politics, Hwang spent 30 years as a prosecutor, gaining both prominence and controversy.

The path to Hwang's arrest began on December 3, 2024, when President Yoon Suk Yeol shocked everyone by declaring emergency martial law during a late-night televised address. He accused the opposition-controlled National Assembly of being an "anti-state den of criminals" aligned with North Korea and claimed his emergency decree was necessary to protect South Korea's democracy from internal threats. He dispatched armed soldiers to the National Assembly building and reportedly ordered the arrest of opposition leaders and even members of his own party.

However, the response was probably unexpected for Yoon. Soon after the martial law was imposed, the legislators rushed to the parliament, physically circumventing military barricades, and within hours they unanimously voted to revoke the martial law order. Mass protests erupted across the country, and opposition parties immediately launched impeachment proceedings. Within a few days, the National Assembly impeached Yoon, suspending his presidential powers. South Korea's Constitutional Court also upheld the impeachment and permanently removed Yoon from office.

During this tumultuous period, Hwang posted messages on social media expressing support for Yoon's martial law declaration and calling for a crackdown on what he described as "pro-North leftist forces". Prosecutors allege that these statements constituted incitement of insurrection and that Hwang actively endorsed emergency actions that violated constitutional norms. After ignoring multiple summonses from the special counsel investigating the martial law incident, Hwang was finally detained and arrested last week.

Legal Proceedings and Political Reactions

Hwang's arrest is part of a broader investigation to examine the roles of numerous officials in the attempted power grab. Alongside Hwang, former National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong was also arrested on the same day. He is accused of dereliction of duty for failing to report Yoon's illegal martial law plan to the National Assembly despite being aware of it in advance, as well as perjury, destruction of evidence, and falsification of official documents. Cho is the eighth director of South Korea's intelligence agency to be arrested since the agency's establishment, underscoring long-standing concerns about politicization and abuse of power within the security services.

However, legal proceedings have been politically divisive. Shortly after Hwang’s initial detention, a South Korean court rejected the formal arrest warrant for him, citing insufficient evidence to justify continued detention.

Reactions to the arrests have also been sharply polarized. Opposition lawmakers and civil society groups have called for full accountability, arguing that those who supported or enabled the martial law declaration must face justice to protect South Korea's democratic institutions. On the other hand, Conservative politicians and commentators are calling it a "witch hunt" for targeting conservative leaders.

Democracy Under Stress

The martial law crisis and its aftermath have exposed both the resilience and fragility of South Korea's democracy.

On one hand, the rapid mobilization of lawmakers, mass civic protests, and the decisive actions of the National Assembly and Constitutional Court demonstrated the strength of democratic institutions and the enduring commitment of South Koreans to constitutional governance.

On the other, this crisis has also revealed serious vulnerabilities. South Korea's presidential system concentrates enormous power in the executive. Critics argue that insufficient checks and balances, combined with a single five-year presidential term that discourages long-term policy continuity, create conditions ripe for abuse. The fact that this is the second presidential impeachment in less than a decade has also intensified the calls for constitutional reform to limit executive power and strengthen legislative oversight.

Deep political polarization is another major concern. South Korean politics has become increasingly fragmented, with parties prioritizing loyalty over compromise and democratic norms. The number of impeachment motions against senior officials skyrocketed during Yoon's brief presidency, while presidential vetoes of legislation also surged, reflecting a breakdown in mutual tolerance and institutional restraint. This polarization complicates efforts to build cross-partisan coalitions and threatens to undermine democratic stability.

The role of intelligence and security services in this crisis has also raised alarms. The arrest of the former NIS director highlights concerns about the politicization of institutions meant to be neutral and the risks posed when security agencies become tools of partisan agendas rather than guardians of national security.

Regional and Global Ramifications

The political turmoil in South Korea carries significant implications beyond its borders. Regionally, North Korea has responded with surprising restraint, limiting its commentary to domestic media and avoiding overt attempts to exploit the crisis.

The USA expressed confidence in South Korea's democratic institutions but avoided direct criticism of Yoon, prioritizing alliance stability, while China has also restrained itself despite the anti-China rhetoric surrounding the martial law period, likely calculating that restraint serves its long-term interests better than interference. Japan issued cautious statements, concerned about the potential impact on trilateral security cooperation with South Korea and the United States.

Economically, the crisis has shaken investor confidence. Analysts have warned that prolonged political instability could damage the country's sovereign credit rating and slow economic growth. With the global economy already facing challenges from trade tensions, South Korea's leaderless period amid impeachment proceedings has also left the country ill-equipped to navigate complex economic challenges.

Looking Ahead

South Korea's experience offers both warnings and lessons: the importance of immediate civic and institutional responses to authoritarian overreach, the risks of excessive executive power, and the difficulty of sustaining pro-democracy coalitions amid deep partisan divisions.

President Lee Jae-myung faces the daunting task of restoring public trust in institutions, managing economic pressures, and navigating a complex foreign policy landscape. Domestically, calls for constitutional reform to curb presidential power and improve checks and balances are growing louder, though achieving consensus on such reforms will be difficult given entrenched partisan divisions.

The stakes for South Korea's democracy remain high.